Girl Scouts lead 2012 Earth Hour Initiative March 31!
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois (GSNI) will join Girl Scouts nationwide as they celebrate Earth Hour (http://www.earthhour.org/). "Our girls are thrilled about participating in a meaningful global initiative that makes a positive impact on the environment," said Vicki Wright, GSNI CEO. “It's also a significant lesson in teamwork and giving back to our community.” Members of GSNI will support Earth Hour by turning lights off from 8:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. on Saturday, March 31, 2012.
Girl Scouts across the country are also taking activities beyond the hour by installing ENERGY STAR®-qualified or other energy-efficient light bulbs in homes, schools and businesses during the month of March.
The Earth Hour collaboration is one part of Girl Scouts' broader commitment to environmental sustainability. Girl Scouts Forever Green (GSFG) (http://www.girlscouts.org/gsforevergreen/), the Girl Scouts' 100th Anniversary Take Action Project, involves three key projects: 1) using reusable water bottles and bags to reduce plastic waste; 2) planting and maintaining rain gardens at schools, homes and other sites; and 3) participation in Earth Hour events and installing ENERGY STAR qualified or other energy-efficient light bulbs. Participants are also encouraged to take an online pledge (http://www.girlscouts.org/gsforevergreen/GSFG-Pledge.asp) stating their yearlong commitment to GSFG efforts.
Earth Hour is a global initiative that invites individuals, businesses, governments and communities to turn off their lights for one hour – 8:30 P.M. on Saturday, March 31 – to show support for environmentally sustainable action. This year, Earth Hour is asking participants to go “Beyond the Hour” by committing to an action, big or small, that they will sustain for the future of our planet. In the United States, Earth Hour is partnering with the Girl Scouts to bring the movement to life.
Initially a single-city initiative in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, Earth Hour has become a global movement in which hundreds of millions of people from every continent join together to acknowledge the importance of protecting and improving the planet. Since its inception, Earth Hour's iconic “lights out” event has seen some of the world's most recognized landmarks switch off their lights, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Buckingham Palace in London, San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and the Forbidden City in China.
About Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois serves nearly 20,000 girls and 6,000 adult volunteers in parts or all of Boone, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago counties.
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls in grades K through 12 are engaged in discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place. Girls develop leadership potential by participating in age-appropriate activities that enable them to discover their values, skills, and the world around them. Activities in science and technology, business and economic literacy, and outdoor and environmental awareness provide girls with opportunities for fun and friendship while fostering the development of leadership skills and self-esteem. For more information on 100th anniversary activities, or how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois, visit http://www.girlscoutsni.org/ or call 1-800-242-5591.
About Girl Scouts of the USA
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.2 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries.